Page 41 of The Stand-In Boyfriend

“That’s Chad. His family owns the land,” I tell Jessy, tipping my chin in the direction of the group.

It doesn’t take her long to see them. “Now I’m even less sure that somebody won’t call the cops on us.”

“What?” I stop and look down at her. “You gonna tell me that you’re afraid of spending a night locked up, Sunshine?”

“It’s definitely not high on my list of priorities, Mr. Dark and Dangerous,” she mocks back. “Besides, this skirt is too pretty for a jail cell.”

I look down at her, since she just gave me the perfect excuse. Those lean, toned legs are still tanned from the summer. Yup, definitely too pretty. Some other girl would probably wear heels even knowing this is a field party. Not Jessy, though. She’s too practical for that. It makes me wish she weren’t because then I might have gotten a chance to carry her and feel those toned thighs of hers wrapped around me.

And now it’s really time to stop thinking about her legs wrapped around me. My hands sliding over her smooth skin. Her warm body pressed against mine. Just like when I helped her put up those banners yesterday.

This is a fucking bad idea, Russell.

“Yo, Russell!”

My best friend’s voice breaks me out of my thoughts and saves me from embarrassing myself. Turning around, I find Elliott leaning against his truck, a girl tucked underneath his arm. Two more guys from my offensive line are standing by his side.

I pull Jessica toward them. “C’mon. We don’t have to stay long, just say hi.”

“Right.” She nods, but I can still see that she’s on edge. However, I don’t get a chance to say anything else, because Elliott pulls me into a one-armed hug.

“You finally showed your ass here.” He steps back and looks down at Jessy, giving her an appreciative once-over. “I thought for sure you’d ditch us to spend some alone time with your girl. You know, like you’ve been doing for over a week. Not that anybody could blame you.”

The jackass stares at her legs way too long for my liking and I want to punch him in the face.

What the hell?

I’m not sure where that even came from, but it’s here. The weight of it wrapping around my throat and suffocating me. I try to shake it off.

She’s myfakegirlfriend, for fuck’s sake.

“Nah, we couldn’t miss it. Right, Sunshine?” I give her a small nudge in the side. “You know this asshole, and these are Jeremiah and Dean. Guys, Jessy.”

“Hisgirlfriend,” Elliott supplies in an exaggerated tone like they don’t know it. They all chuckle and say hi before returning to their dates and drinks. Well, all except Elliott. “I know that you girls are all over quarterbacks, for whatever reason really, but let’s be real here for a moment, I’m the one who makes him look good. You know, in case you decide to ditch his ass and all that.”

Jessy laughs too, a genuine smile curling her lips. “Well that’s good to know. I’ll definitely keep…”

“You’ll nothing.” I move behind her, wrap my arms around her and pull her to me. Then I give a pointed glare to my soon-to-be ex-best friend. “Go and find your own girl, Elliott.”

His smile turns even more smug than it was before. “Oh, no way. I leave that to you, my friend. More ladies for me.”

The girl that was tucked underneath his arm now turns to look at him, and judging by the look on her face she isn’t the least bit happy.

This should get interesting.

“Hey, what about your offer then?” Jessy protests.

“For you, honey?” He lets his eyes slide slowly over her body. Does he really have a death wish or what? “I’d make an exception.”

Elliott winks at her.

I glare at him over her shoulder.

And then he finally gets what’s coming for him. The girl—May, Mary, Mae? I’m not even sure what her name is—finally has enough of him. She smacks him over the head before moving out of his arms.

“You, Elliott, are a pig!” she screeches loudly enough for people to turn their heads in our direction.

Elliot scratches at his neck, a confused look on his face as he watches her storm off. He turns to us. “What did I do?”

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